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she added with a coy smirk that set Ash s teeth on
edge.
Frowning, he watched her bustle from the room,
and crossed the room to seat himself beside Amanda.
 Miss Bridge, he began, taking her hand in his. Her
fingers were cool and very soft.  Miss Bridge, I have
just spoken to your father, and he has granted me
permission to seek your hand in marriage.
Amanda said nothing, but gazed at him in wide-eyed
expectancy. Ash ploughed ahead.
 We have known each other only a few months,
32
and  despite himself, a note of irony crept into his
voice  though you apparently consider your heart
given to another, I believe we can deal well together.
Ash suddenly knew a moment of profound
depression. As a declaration of undying devotion, his
little speech left a great deal to be desired. It should
have been different from this, he thought with a pang,
but immediately thrust the notion from his mind.
Amanda still had said nothing, but was gazing at him
with what seemed to him vaguely contemptuous pity.
He gritted his teeth.
 Miss Bridge, will you do me the inestimable honor
of becoming my wife? he concluded, the emptiness
within him almost thundering in his ears.
Amanda Bridge dropped her lashes before lifting her
head to gaze at him for a long moment.  Of course,
she replied at last, and Ash was startled at the
offhandedness of her tone. Lord, he had just proposed
to a woman who had that morning attempted to elope
with another man. Even given that her mind was,
theoretically, in total disorder, did she not realize the
magnitude of what had just taken place?
 Are you sure? he asked harshly.  This is your
future we are speaking of.
At that, Amanda laughed, an open sound of genuine
amusement.  My future! Her gaze transferred itself to
the window.  But the future can be fleeting, my lord.
 I would have thought, Ash replied,  that the
certainty of the existence of some kind of future is one
of the few constants in our lives, no matter how
uncertain the fulfillment of that future might be.
She glanced at him quickly.  I suppose that is true.
 At any rate, you have made me a happy man, Miss
Bridge. The words almost stuck in his throat, and
under Amanda s disbelieving stare, he flushed. After a
moment s hesitation, he grasped her shoulders lightly
and pulling her gently toward him, kissed her.
Amanda stiffened in sudden surprise, then relaxed,
realizing this must be part of the ritual. His lips were
warm against hers, his fingers firm on her shoulders.
She found this intimacy oddly unnerving and was
relieved when, after only a few moments, he drew
back. He took her hand once again.
 Perhaps, we should  Ash was interrupted as
Serena bustled back into the room. Her glance was
questioning, but observing the proximity of the earl
33
and her daughter on the settee, she smiled broadly.
 Oh, my lord! she exclaimed, pressing a hand to
her plump bosom.  Is it true what Mr. Bridge just told
me?
Amanda sensed the surge of irritation that swept
over Ash at the woman s gaucherie, but he rose
smoothly and bowed.
 Yes, Mrs. Bridge, please wish us happy.
 Oh, my dears! She hastened across the room,
embracing first the earl and then clasping Amanda to
her like a lifeline thrown to a drowning victim.
 Gracious, she continued, sinking into a chair covered
in a tapestry silk,  we shall have to start planning our
ball, won t we?
 Ball? queried Amanda blankly.
 Why, yes, to announce your betrothal. We shall
invite only the best people, of course. Next month, I
think on Thursday, the sixteenth. Lady Federsham is
holding her soiree that night, if I am not mistaken. We
were not invited, of course, but I rather fancy that we
shall see our rooms full to overflowing, for I shall put
about the merest hint that those attending our
function will be hearing a most interesting
announcement concerning the Earl of Ashindon and
our sweet Amanda. She fell silent, a faraway
expression in her faded eyes as though she were
immersed in a rosy dream.
Good Lord, thought Amanda, experiencing an urge
to rush from the room, what a perfectly ghastly female.
She studiously avoided the earl s glance. The next
moment she swallowed a chuckle. What earthly
difference did any of it make to her? All these people
were but figments of her imagination and after a good
night s sleep would be no more than an amusing
memory.
She turned to face the window. As fascinating as
this whole hallucination thing had been, it was more
than time to quit it. It had become surprisingly
difficult during the course of the day to remember that
the Bridges did not exist, nor did the Earl of Ashindon,
nor even the little maid, Hutchings. She had found
herself caught up in their doings. In fact, during her
conversation with Ashindon in the park, she had not
once thought of her real life in Chicago, which now
seemed as far away as though it were on Mars. For a
couple of hours she had become Amanda Bridge, and
34
the earl had been a disturbingly real presence.
She returned to the present with a start, realizing
that Serena was still burbling on about the ball.
Amanda chastised herself. How absurd she was
being as though these people had a life outside her
imagination. She turned to face the group that gazed
at her so expectantly.  Do I what? she asked, realizing
that Serena had repeated the same question several
times, in growing exasperation.
 Do you think we should invite Charlotte Twining
and her mother? I know you and she have been bosom
bows, but since your quarrel with her 
Amanda almost blurted.  What the hell difference
does it make who you invite? What difference does any
of it make? Tomorrow morning you all will be nothing
but shadows echoing in the corners of my mind.
Something held her back, however, and she clamped
her lips together tightly.
 Have you forgotten, Mama? she asked instead.  I
have no memory of either Charlotte Twining or her
mother.
Serena shrugged her shoulders uncomfortably.  Oh,
that. Surely you will have recovered your senses by
then.
Amanda almost laughed aloud. The woman spoke
as though her daughter had broken out at an [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]